Water Quality - Chemistry and Microbiology

Code

SE-CMI1

Version

6.0

Offered by

Supply Engineering

ECTS

Prerequisites

SE/CE-SCI1 or similar.

Main purpose

For the student to obtain a background in basic chemistry and microbiology related to water quality which can be applied in the fields of drinking water, wastewater, district heating and climate adaptation.

Knowledge

After completing the course, the student will be able to understand and use the following basic chemistry and microbiological terms and methods:

K1: Write math equations for the following physical and chemical laws: Dalton’s, Boyle’s, Charles’s, Ideal Gas, Henry’s, Conservation of Mass, Mass Action, Stokes’, Beer’s.

K2: List the 8 main ions in natural water showing formula, charge and formula weight.

K3: Define key water chemistry concepts and terms such as: dynamic equilibrium, mole, suspension, Calcium Carbonate Precipitation Potential (CCPP), acid/base reactions, redox reactions, water types.

K4: List Danish Quality Criteria for drinking water (nitrate, arsenic, iron, manganese & ammonium) and for wastewater (nitrogen, phosphorous, theoretical oxygen demand).

K5: List and distinguish between major groups of microorganisms (bacteria, archaea, protozoa, etc.).

K6: Identify and classify microorganisms relevant to water systems across taxonomic ranks, from domain to species level (e.g., Bacteria → Proteobacteria → Enterobacteriaceae → Escherichia → E. coli).

K7: Define key concepts related to organic carbon and microbial regrowth in water systems, including Assimilable Organic Carbon (AOC), Biodegradable Dissolved Organic Carbon (BDOC), biological stability, and aftergrowth, and their relevance to water quality.

K8: Provide examples of key microbial groups involved in biological processes in water systems (ammonium oxidizing bacteria (AOB), nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB), Nitrospira, Anammox bacteria, Legionella, heterotrophic bacteria, anaerobes, etc.)

Skills

After completing the course, the student will be able to:

S1: Perform calculations in connection with the physical and chemical laws, using the unit analysis method.

S2: Perform equilibrium calculations using the Law of Mass Action

S3: Determine oxidation numbers in compounds and balance redox equations.

S4: Use the PHREEQC program to calculate speciation, saturation index and ion balance.

S5: Perform calculations and construct graphs to determine reaction order and reaction rates.

S6: Describe the phases of bacterial growth in batch cultures (lag, exponential, stationary, and death) and calculate key growth parameters such as generation time.

S7: Describe and evaluate the strengths and limitations of various disinfection methods to control and eliminate microorganisms in water systems, including chemical (e.g., chlorination, ozonation) and physical (e.g., UV irradiation, filtration) methods.

S8: Describe the formation, structural organization, and functional roles of biofilms in water systems, including their impact on microbial persistence, water quality, infrastructure, and treatment processes.

S9: Apply Michaelis-Menten equations to analyze enzyme-catalyzed reactions, and calculate kinetic parameters from experimental data using graphical methods (e.g., Lineweaver-Burk plots)

Competences

After completing the course, the student will be able to:

C1: Discuss characteristics which distinguish solutions, colloid suspensions and non-colloid suspensions from each other.

C2: Assess the characteristics of various water parameters and design sampling methods that are appropriate for the parameters.

C3: Classify chemical equations as acid/base, redox, both or neither.

C4: Interpret results from a chemical analysis package to determine groundwater processes in an aquifer.

C5: Explain water processes such as aeration, precipitation, sedimentation, disinfection, ion exchange, and pyrite oxidation.

C6: Compare and contrast the principles behind spectrophotometry and nephelometry.

C7: Critically assess the principles, applications, and limitations of culture-based (e.g., HPC), enzymatic (e.g., ATP), and molecular biology (e.g., PCR) methods used in water quality analysis.

C8: Differentiate between beneficial, pathogenic, and indicator microorganisms, and evaluate their roles in water systems.

Topics

Teaching methods and study activities

Lectures, individual exercises, group exercises, lab work, self-study, homework assignments.
137.5 hours of work for the student

Resources

Course materials include various written materials, exercises, lectures slides, class demonstrations, and video materials made available to the student in Itslearning.

Evaluation

Examination

Exam prerequisites:

Course participation min 75%.

If the exam prerequisites are not met, the student must submit written answers to assignments on the subject from each of the missed lectures in order to be eligible for the re-examination. These assignments are scheduled after the regular examination.

Type of exam:

Written exam in total 4 hours, composed of two parts:
1-hour multiple choice and 3 hours written exam.
External assessment.

Tools allowed:
No material aids allowed during 1-hour multiple choice exam.
All material aids allowed during 3-hours written exam with the exception of internet and smart phones.

Re-exam:
Equal to the ordinary exam.

Grading criteria

Grading based on the Danish 7-point scale.

Additional information

Responsible

Ditte Andreasen Søborg

Valid from

8/1/2025 12:00 AM

Course type

Keywords

Water quality, chemistry, microbiology</div>